Immediately after being greeted at the door of the Black Box Theatre, the vibe of 1940’s New Orleans flooded the room. The sizable set extended throughout the entire theatre from wall to wall, including the upper balcony portion. Once seated, characters began to walk around the theatre, creating little scenes of their own. Whether it was a young gentleman reading on the railing, or three women gossiping on a bench, the cast kept the audience itching to see what was to come.
Right from the start, something simply felt off about the plot. The dark lighting and quick spotlights created a mysterious vibe. Because the set took up majority of the space, it was hard to see certain scenes in the beginning of the play. The groupings of characters were only seen from certain areas of seating, making it hard to visualize the scene itself. This was only a problem in the first few minutes of the show, since majority of the action was in the center of the Kowalski home.
The accent was also one of the key throw offs about the play. It was very brisk and hard to understand at first, but as the show went on, it was much easier to keep up with the flow of the script. It ended up adding an indescribable atmosphere to the play, adding on to the sense that it is simply admirable to talk in such a thick accent for 130 minutes.
The play is based off of the mysterious life of Blanche DuBois, the emotionally unstable, middle-aged woman who is visiting her cousin, Mrs. Kowalski. The role of DuBois was brilliantly executed by Alana Knobel. The crew was quick in changing sets, making sure the action never stopped. Knobel’s incredible performance was commended by the crowd. Her punctuality and execution of DuBois created consistent emotional shifts in the audience, and compliments flooded the room during intermission and at the end of the show.
Lead actors Anthony Saldana and Stephanie Gubin could not have been a better combination on stage. Their natural chemistry added an authentic feeling to the play, as they played the Kowalski couple flawlessly. All supporting actors followed this trend, taking the play flawless to the end.
Niles West Theatre is known for their impeccable performances, but this specific play deserves extra recognition. Because of its rigorous demands, many high schools do not attempt to tackle its demanding script. This talented cast, as well as amazing director, did more than just simply perform the play. They created a real story for the audience and continuously gaining emotional reactions from the crowd.
As Niles West Theatre continues to “wow” us all, it is safe to say that we are all waiting to see what is in store for these aspiring actors. Luckily, the spring musical Rent is underway.
